U.S. patent number 7,958,652 [Application Number 11/677,323] was granted by the patent office on 2011-06-14 for extraction cleaning with plenum and air outlets facilitating air flow drying.
This patent grant is currently assigned to BISSELL Homecare Inc.. Invention is credited to Eric C. Huffman, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz.
United States Patent |
7,958,652 |
Huffman , et al. |
June 14, 2011 |
Extraction cleaning with plenum and air outlets facilitating air
flow drying
Abstract
A portable cleaning apparatus comprises a base module for
movement along a surface and a plenum. The base module comprises a
base housing enclosing a fan for moving air through the housing
from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing
through an exhaust outlet in the housing. The plenum fluidly
communicates at one end with the exhaust outlet and at another end
with at least one plenum outlet opening adjacent the surface to
direct air exhausted from the housing interior along the
surface.
Inventors: |
Huffman; Eric C. (Lowell,
MI), Lenkiewicz; Kenneth M. (Grand Rapids, MI) |
Assignee: |
BISSELL Homecare Inc. (Grand
Rapids, MI)
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Family
ID: |
38050436 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/677,323 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20070130721 A1 |
Jun 14, 2007 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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11275471 |
Jan 6, 2006 |
7793385 |
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60593358 |
Jan 7, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
34/89; 34/210;
96/50; 34/239; 34/201; 347/36; 347/89; 15/320; 95/237; 15/339;
141/200; 34/638 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F26B
21/001 (20130101); A47L 11/4044 (20130101); A47L
11/4088 (20130101); A47L 11/4097 (20130101); A47L
11/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F26B
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;34/89,201,210,239,638
;15/320,339 ;141/200 ;347/36,89 ;95/237 ;96/50 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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Primary Examiner: Gravini; Stephen M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGarry Bair PC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/275,471, filed Jan. 6, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,385,
issued Sep. 14, 2010, and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 60/593,358, filed Jan. 7, 2005, which are
incorporated herein in their entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of drying a surface the method comprising: selecting a
portable cleaning apparatus, including a base module with a suction
nozzle, and a base module housing with an exhaust air outlet for
discharging pressurized air, the suction nozzle including an
opening located within the base module housing for extraction of
air and liquid from the surface; coupling a plenum with the
exterior of the base module housing, the plenum including a plenum
outlet opening located externally of the base module housing;
removing a mixture of air and liquid from the surface by applying
suction to the surface through the suction nozzle while moving the
base module along a first direction; separating the air and liquid;
pressurizing the separated air; and exhausting the pressurized air
through the exhaust outlet into the plenum, thence through the
plenum outlet opening in a second direction transverse to the first
direction along the surface away from the base module.
2. The method of drying a surface according to claim 1, and further
comprising exhausting the pressurized air along the surface from a
location spaced away from the suction nozzle.
3. The method of drying a surface according to claim 1, and further
comprising passing the pressurized air toward the surface through
the bottom of the base housing; before exhausting the pressurized
air laterally along the surface.
4. The method of drying a surface according to claim 1, and further
comprising heating the air by directing the air over a
heat-generating powered component and exhausting the heated air
along the surface.
5. The method of drying a surface according to claim 1, and further
comprising separating the pressurized air in-to two streams wherein
the exhausting step includes directing the two streams of
pressurized air along two substantially opposite directions
generally collinear with the second direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to extraction cleaning. In one of its
aspects, the invention relates to an extraction cleaning machine
with drying of a surface to be cleaned. In another of its aspects,
the invention relates to an upright extraction cleaning machine
with drying of a surface to be cleaned. In another of its aspects,
the invention relates to extraction cleaning with air flow drying
of a surface to be cleaned. In another of its aspects, the
invention relates to extraction cleaning with air flow drying of a
surface to be cleaned facilitated by a plenum and air outlet
openings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Upright extraction cleaning machines have been used for removing
dirt from surfaces such as carpeting and hard floors. The known
extraction cleaning machines can be in the form of a canister-type
unit, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,720 to Blase et al., or
an upright unit, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,237 to Kasper
et al.
Either type of unit contains a fluid delivery system for depositing
a quantity of cleaning solution on the surface to be cleaned. The
cleaning solution dissolves the dirt, removes the dirt from the
surface, and places the dirt in suspension, which aids in the
vacuum removal of the dirt from the surface. Although the cleaning
solution and suspended dirt are removed from the surface, the
surface remains wet, and cannot typically be used until it dries.
The drying time may be significant, perhaps several hours in
duration, depending on the surface type. For carpeted surfaces, the
thickness of the carpet pile, the hydrophilic properties of the
carpet fibers, the degree of saturation of the carpet, the ambient
air relative humidity and circulation, and the like all affect the
speed at which the carpet dries. While the surface is drying,
furniture that has been removed cannot be replaced, traffic must be
diverted to other locations or interrupted, and the area cannot be
used, which may cause unacceptable interruptions in necessary
activities, such as commercial, educational, or institutional
activities.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,086 to Ueno et al. discloses a cleaner
comprising a suction nozzle for removing excess cleaning liquid
from the carpet and an adjacently located blower nozzle which
delivers heated air downwardly onto the carpet after the suction
nozzle has removed the excess liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,379 to Keller discloses a carpet extractor head
fluidly connected to an external vacuum and pressurized air source,
wherein drying air is delivered through an interior conduit in the
head to the carpet and is evacuated through a conduit surrounding
the interior conduit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,578 to Frampton discloses a mobile water
evacuating and surface drying device having a blower nozzle to
deliver heated air downwardly onto the surface after a suction
nozzle has removed excess liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,051 to Salehibakhsh discloses a carpet drying
apparatus comprising a hollow plate fluidly connected to a
regularly-spaced array of elongated, hollow needles which are
inserted into a carpet to deliver compressed air through the
needles and into the carpet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,905 to Kuma et al. discloses a stationary
conveyor belt apparatus for drying mats, carpet pieces, and the
like that are moved on a moving belt through a vacuum and
compressed air drying station. The vacuum and compressed air
nozzles are in contact with the mat/carpet piece to draw air
through the carpet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A portable cleaning apparatus includes a base module with a suction
nozzle, and a base housing module housing with an exhaust air
outlet for discharging pressurized air. The suction nozzle includes
an opening located within the base module housing for extraction of
air and liquid from a surface. A plenum is coupled with an exterior
of the base module housing, and includes a plenum outlet opening
located externally of the base module housing.
A method of drying a surface comprises selecting the portable
cleaning apparatus, removing a mixture of air and liquid from the
surface by applying suction to the surface through the suction
nozzle while moving the base module along a first direction,
separating the air and liquid, pressurizing the separated air, and
exhausting the pressurized air through the exhaust outlet into the
plenum, thence through the plenum outlet opening in a second
direction transverse to the first direction along the surface away
from the base module.
Preferably, the pressurized air is exhausted along the surface from
a location spaced away from the suction nozzle.
In one embodiment, the pressurized air is passed toward the surface
through the bottom of the base housing before being exhausted
laterally along the surface.
In another embodiment, the air is heated by directing the air over
a heat-generating power component, and exhausting the heated air
along the surface.
In yet another embodiment, the pressurized air is separated into at
least two streams wherein the exhausting step includes directing
the two streams of pressurized air along two substantially opposite
directions generally collinear with the second direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upright extraction cleaning
machine comprising a base module and a handle assembly, and a first
embodiment of a blower assembly according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the upright extraction
cleaning machine of FIG. 1 illustrating an assemblage of
blowers.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upright extraction cleaning
machine comprising a base module and a handle assembly, and a
second embodiment of a blower assembly according to the
invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an upright extraction cleaning
machine comprising a base module and a handle assembly, and a third
and fourth embodiment of a blower assembly according to the
invention.
FIG. 5 is a phantom perspective view of the base module of FIG. 1
illustrating motor cooling air flow and working air flow through
the base module and blower assemblies.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a base module comprising a fifth
embodiment of a blower assembly according to the invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial front elevational view of the base module
illustrated in FIG. 3 showing the migration of water from a surface
under the influence of air flow from a blower assembly.
FIG. 8 is a perspective partial view of an upright extraction
cleaning machine with a plenum mounted to an underside thereof,
comprising a sixth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view from above of a base housing
comprising a part of the upright extraction cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 8, having powered components such as a motor
and fan assembly, with portions removed for clarity.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the motor and fan assembly of FIG. 9
illustrating airflow through the motor and fan assembly and out the
base housing.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view from the underside of the base
housing illustrated in FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the plenum illustrated in FIG.
8.
FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the base housing and plenum
illustrated in FIG. 8.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the base housing and plenum
illustrated in FIG. 13 showing the plenum attached to the base
housing.
FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective partial view of the upright
extraction cleaning machine and attached plenum illustrated in FIG.
8 showing the plenum in an operable configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, a first
embodiment of an extraction cleaning machine 10 according to the
invention is illustrated. The machine 10 is a portable surface
cleaning apparatus including a base module 12 adapted with wheels
22 to roll across a surface to be cleaned, and an upright handle
assembly 14 pivotally mounted to a rear portion of the base module
12. The invention is described and illustrated herein with respect
to an embodiment comprising an upright extraction cleaning machine,
although the invention can also be utilized in a canister-type
cleaning machine. The upright extraction cleaning machine 10 is a
generally well-known device comprising several of the features and
operations described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,122 to Lenkiewicz et
al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Such well-known features and operations will not be described in
detail herein, except as otherwise necessary for a complete
understanding of the invention.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base module 12 includes a
housing 20 having a front portion 16. The housing 20 forms an
enclosure for a motor 24 operating a well-known vacuum system 30
for vacuuming liquid from the surface to be cleaned through a
vacuum inlet 28, an agitation assembly 26 (FIG. 5), a liquid
delivery system comprising a pair of outlet nozzles (not shown) for
applying liquid to the surface, liquid reservoirs, and the
like.
The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a blower
assembly 40 mounted to the handle assembly 14, preferably along a
rear portion thereof. The blower assembly 40 comprises a plurality
of blowers 42 mounted in a blower housing 44. Preferably, the
blowers 42 are high-flow blowers capable of a relatively high air
flow therethrough. The greater the airflow, the better, however,
suitable air flow for the purposes described herein range from
20-100 cubic feet per minute, typically about 30 cubic feet per
minute. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pair of blowers 42 mounted in
one lateral wall of the blower housing 44 for delivery of air
laterally away from the extraction cleaning machine 10 in a first
direction. It will be understood that an identical pair of blowers
42 is mounted in the opposed lateral wall of the blower housing 44
for delivery of air laterally away from the extraction cleaning
machine 10 in a second, opposed direction. The first and second
directions are transverse to the movement of the extraction
cleaning machine 10 along the floor during the cleaning process.
Each blower 42 comprises a fan 46 rotatably mounted in a fan
housing 48. The fan 46 is illustrated as a propeller-type fan,
although other fans, such as a centrifugal fan, would typically be
used. The fan housing 48 can enclose a fan motor, a heating element
for heating the air delivered by the fan 46, and a control device
(not shown) for operating the blower 42. The blower 42 can also
comprise a cowl 54 enclosing the fan 46, and a grille 52 attached
to the blower housing 44 over the blower 42. The grille 52 can be
provided with inclined louvers and rotatably attached to the blower
housing 44 to enable the direction of the airflow to be selected by
rotating the grille 52.
The blowers 42 can be electrically connected to the power supply
for the extraction cleaning machine 10. A user-operated control
mechanism (not shown) well-known to a person of ordinary skill in
the art can be incorporated into the cleaning machine 10 for
selectively operating the blowers 42. For example, the control
mechanism can comprise a well-known switching device (not shown)
which can operate between an "off" position and one or more "on"
positions. The switching device can utilize one or more toggle
switches, a rotary switch, pushbuttons, or the like, to select a
particular operational condition. For example, with the switching
device placed in an "off" position, the blowers 42 will be placed
in a deactivated condition. A first switch operating position can
activate all blowers 42 for delivery of air to the surface to be
cleaned extending along both sides of the cleaning machine 10. A
second switch operating position can activate one set of blowers 42
on, for example, the left side of the cleaning machine 10 for
delivery of air to the surface extending along the left side of the
cleaning machine 10. A third switch operating position can activate
the other set of blowers 42 on, for example, the right side of the
cleaning machine 10 for delivery of air to the surface extending
along the right side of the cleaning machine 10. Additional switch
operating positions and/or controls can activate or deactivate the
heating elements for selected blowers 42. Fan speeds can be
selectively adjusted by other operating positions and/or
controls.
The operation of the blowers 42 can also be operationally
associated with the operation of the extraction cleaning machine
10. For example, the blowers 42 can be automatically activated when
the vacuum and liquid delivery systems are operating.
Alternatively, the blowers 42 can be independently activated. Thus,
the vacuum and liquid delivery systems can be operated without the
blowers 42 activated, and the blowers 42 can be activated without
the vacuum and liquid delivery systems operating. In the latter
situation, the extraction cleaning machine 10 can be selectively
positioned on a wet surface and operated continuously as a blower
to dry the surface after cleaning, similar to the use of
conventional ventilating fans for drying the surface.
FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the blower assembly 60 in
which the blowers 62 are mounted in an upper portion of the housing
20. FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of blowers 62 mounted laterally on
one side of the housing 20 for delivery of air laterally away from
the extraction cleaning machine 10 in a first direction. It will be
understood that an identical pair of blowers 62 is mounted on the
opposite side of the housing 12 for delivery of air laterally away
from the extraction cleaning machine 10 in a second, opposed
direction.
FIG. 4 illustrates a third and fourth embodiment of the blower
assembly 70 in which the blowers 72 are mounted in a lower portion
of the housing 20. FIG. 4 illustrates a pair of blowers 72 mounted
in one lateral wall of the housing 12 for delivery of air laterally
away from the extraction cleaning machine 10 in a first direction
transverse to the direction of movement of the cleaning machine. It
will be understood that an identical pair of blowers 72 is mounted
in the opposed lateral wall of the housing 12 for delivery of air
laterally away from the extraction cleaning machine 10 in a second,
opposed direction. It has been found that airflow along the surface
to be cleaned from a blower assembly located at the surface
generates much less noise than a blower which is elevated above the
surface.
FIG. 4 further illustrates another set of blowers 82 that can be
used in addition to or in lieu of the blowers 72. These blowers 82
are adapted to direct drying air in a direction of the movement of
the cleaning machine 10 during the cleaning process.
FIG. 5 illustrates in a single view the location and airflow
associated with each embodiment. In the embodiment comprising the
blower assembly 60, air discharged by fans 64 through a grille 66
originates with air vacuumed into the cleaning machine 10 through
the vacuum inlet 28. Such air is referred to as "working air" and
contains liquid removed from the surface to be cleaned which is
separated from the air and retained in a reservoir in the
extraction cleaning machine for later disposal. In a well-known
manner, air, represented by the airflow vector 90, flows through
the vacuum inlet 28 and into a vacuum blower inlet 32, represented
by the airflow vector 92. Air is exhausted from the vacuum blower
90 through a vacuum blower outlet 34, as represented by the airflow
vector 94, and to a conventional recovery tank (not shown) that
separates liquid from air. Air exhausted from the separation
process is delivered to the blowers 62 through suitable airflow
conduits or channelways (not shown), as represented by the airflow
vector 96. The air is discharged along the surface by the blowers
62, as represented by the airflow vector 98. It will be understood
that the airflow generating portion of the blower assemblies 40,
60, 70, 82, 120 can be eliminated and the airflow can be generated
by the vacuum blower 30 and using either working air or motor
cooling air to dry the surface.
It will also be understood that air discharged from the blower
assembly 60 can originate elsewhere, such as through one or more
inlets in the housing 20 established specifically for providing air
to the blower assembly 60, or as air originating as cooling air for
the motor assembly 24. In FIG. 5, air discharged from the blower
assembly 70 is illustrated as originating as cooling air for the
motor assembly 24. Typically, cooling air for the motor assembly
24, represented by the airflow vector 100, is drawn into the
housing 20 through one or more inlets in the housing 20. The air is
routed through the motor assembly 24, represented by the airflow
vector 102, and cools the motor assembly 24. The air is then routed
through suitable conduits or channelways (not shown), represented
by the airflow vector 104, to the blower assembly 70. The air is
discharged along the surface by the blowers 72, as represented by
the airflow vector 106.
FIG. 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment in which the vacuum inlet 28
leads to a baffle chamber 112 where the vacuumed liquid is
separated from the air and received in a recovery tank 110 for
later disposal in a well-known manner. The baffle chamber 112 is
fluidly connected to a standpipe 116. The standpipe 116 terminates
in a blower assembly 120 comprising a fan 122 adapted to discharge
air along the surface in a manner similar to the blower assembly 70
illustrated in FIG. 4. Air is drawn through the vacuum inlet 28,
represented by the airflow vector 90, through the baffle chamber
112, represented by the airflow vector 114, through the standpipe
116 and out the blower assembly 120 along the surface, represented
by the airflow vector 124.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, airflow 132 over a wet carpet surface
from any of the herein-described blower assemblies will accelerate
the removal of moisture 134 from the wet carpet 130. The relatively
high velocity of the airflow 132 will establish a forced convection
current at the carpet 130 surface which facilitates the movement of
moisture 134 out of the carpet 130 and into the ambient air.
The blower assemblies described and illustrated herein have been
configured as delivering air laterally away from the extraction
cleaning machine. However, blowers can also be configured to
deliver air forward and rearward of the extraction cleaning
machine, either in combination with the configurations described
herein, or in substitution therefor. The greater the airflow, the
better, however, the blower assemblies will have an airflow of
20-100 cubic feet per minute, typically 30 cubic feet per minute,
to deliver air at a relatively high flow a distance of several
yards from the extraction cleaning machine. Depending upon the
distance from the extraction cleaning machine over which the air is
to flow for drying the surface, the blower assembly airflow can
exceed 100 cubic feet per minute. The blower assemblies can also
have movable grilles mounted in a rotatable housing so that airflow
can be focused or directed to selected locations away from the
extraction cleaning machine. The blower assemblies can also be
provided with air cleaning devices, such as filters or
electrostatic precipitators, desiccant filters for dehumidification
of the air, fragrance delivery packages for introducing fragrance
into the air, timers for controlling the length of time the blower
is operated, and the like. Additionally, the handle mounted blower
assembly 40 illustrated in FIG. 1 can be configured with its own
power supply, including a separate power cord, and controls to be
removable from the extraction cleaning machine to be used as a
stand-alone continuous use blower system.
The auxiliary high flow blower will accelerate the drying of
cleaned, wet surfaces by the delivery of air at a high velocity
tangentially across the surface, thereby accelerating the migration
of moisture from the surface and shortening the drying time during
which the surface is out of service. Dry ambient air can be
utilized, as well as heated air. Heating of the air can be
accomplished by dedicated heating elements in each blower assembly,
or by utilizing cooling air from the motor assembly.
The invention has been described above with respect to an
assemblage of blowers delivering the air over the surface to be
dried. An embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8-15 utilizes a plenum
and fluidly coupled air outlets to deliver air laterally away from
the extractor base module 12 over the surface without the use of
blowers. The plenum can be utilized alone, or in combination with
one or more previously described blower configurations.
FIG. 8 illustrates a base/plenum assembly 140 comprising the base
housing 20 having a lower housing 142 with an attached plenum 144
configured to deliver air laterally away from the base housing 20
along the surface to be dried. The plenum 144 defines a somewhat
V-shaped conduit terminating in a pair of coaxially aligned,
laterally-opposed plenum outlet openings 146, 148.
FIG. 9 illustrates an extractor base module 12 comprising part of a
surface cleaning apparatus, with portions removed to show the
interior with selected components housed therein. The surface
cleaning apparatus is described and illustrated in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. US2006/0288518 A1, dated Dec. 28, 2006,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The extractor base module 12 comprises a lower housing 142 having a
forward end 150 and a rearward end 152. A planar base wall 154
extends from the rearward end 152 to the forward end 150, and a
pair of spaced side walls 156, 158 extends orthogonally along the
side edges of the base wall 154 between the forward end 150 and the
rearward end 152 to define a base housing cavity 212. The base
housing cavity is provided with integral support structures such as
a motor and fan assembly housing 204 for housing a motor and fan
assembly 206, and support structures for housing and/or supporting
other powered components such as a heater 214, a pump assembly 216,
and an agitator motor 218, as well as other known extractor
operational components. Each side wall 156, 158 transitions through
a step wall 160, 162, respectively, to a wheel wall 170, 172,
respectively, extending to the rearward end 152. Each wheel wall
170, 172 is penetrated by a wheel cutout 164, 166, respectively,
associated with the drive wheels 22.
Referring also to FIG. 10, the motor and fan assembly housing 204
is fluidly coupled with a transfer conduit 208 through a motor and
fan assembly inlet conduit 210 and a horizontal conduit 211, which
opens into the motor and fan assembly housing 204 through a fan
housing inlet 220. The motor and fan assembly housing 204 houses a
fan motor 224 and a centrifugal fan 226. The fan 226 comprises a
fan inlet 222 in coaxial fluid communication with the fan housing
inlet 220.
As illustrated by the airflow vectors in FIG. 10, working air from
the vacuum inlet at the front of the extraction cleaning machine is
introduced into the transfer conduit 208 through suitable conduits,
chambers, and channelways (not shown), and thence through the motor
and fan assembly inlet conduit 210 and the horizontal conduit 211
into the centrifugal fan 226. The fan 226 then exhausts the air
from the base housing cavity 212 through an exhaust outlet 168 in
the base wall 154.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lower housing 142 with
portions removed for clarity. The base wall 154 is penetrated by
the exhaust outlet 168 configured for the exhaustion of working air
from within the base housing 20.
FIG. 12 illustrates the plenum 144. The plenum 144 is a somewhat
V-shaped body having a forward end 174, and a rearward end 176
corresponding to the vertex of the "V." The plenum 144 comprises a
V-shaped planar bottom wall 178 transitioning through a pair of
rear side walls 180, 182 to a pair of rear flanges 186, 188
extending laterally away from the side walls 180, 182 generally
parallel to the bottom wall 178. The bottom wall 178 also
transitions through a front side wall 184 to a generally V-shaped
front flange 198 extending laterally away from and generally
parallel to the bottom wall 178. The bottom wall 178 transitions at
the rearward end 176 to an arcuate end wall 192.
A pair of outlet rings 194, 196 extends along the outer edges of
the bottom wall 178 between the rear side walls 180, 182 and the
front side wall 184 to define the plenum outlet openings 146, 148.
The outlet rings 194, 196 define a somewhat oval-shaped inner edge
198, 200.
Referring to FIG. 13, the shape of the plenum 144 is complementary
to the shape of the base wall 154, and configured to extend over
the exhaust outlet 168 so that the bottom wall 178 is spaced
somewhat away from the base wall 154 of the base module 12. The
flanges 186, 188, 190 engage the base wall 154 and are provided
with apertures therethrough for securing the plenum 144 to the base
housing 20 in a known manner, such as with threaded fasteners,
rivets, pins, and the like. The arcuate wall 192 is configured to
engage the lower housing 142 in order to provide a tight fit of the
rearward end 176 of the plenum 144 with the lower housing 142. As
illustrated in FIG. 14, the inner edges 198, 200 of the plenum
outlet openings 146, 148 abut the side walls 156, 158 immediately
forward of the step walls 160, 162 to provide an enclosed generally
air-tight channelway from the exhaust outlet 168 through the plenum
outlet openings 146, 148. A gasket or other suitable seal can be
installed between the plenum 144 and the base housing 20 to enhance
the air-tightness of the channelway.
As illustrated in FIG. 15, with the plenum 144 installed to the
lower housing 142, exhaust air will be delivered from the exhaust
outlet 168 laterally away from the base module 12 along a surface
202 immediately forward of the wheels 22. The spacing of the plenum
bottom wall 178 from the base wall 154, and the lateral dimensions
of the plenum 144 and plenum outlet openings 146, 148, can be
selected to optimize the velocity of the air exiting the plenum
outlet openings 146, 148.
The plenum 144 is preferably a structure that can be selectively
attached to and removed from the lower housing 142 to utilize the
extraction cleaning machine with or without the plenum 144. The
plenum 144 can alternatively be integrated into the lower housing
142, with suitable controls, such as dampers, gates, louvers,
valves, and the like, incorporated into the lower housing 142 to
control the flow of air from the plenum outlet openings 146, 148.
The plenum 144 can also be adapted for fluid communication with
exhaust outlets in the base housing 20 utilized for exhausting
cooling air used to cool powered components such as motors, pumps,
heaters, and the like.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection
with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood
that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. For
example, the blowing of the air can take place exclusively of the
normal operation of the extraction process with the use of the same
equipment. The extraction machine can be parked in a room after the
extraction, with only the blower operating to dry the cleaned
surface of the room without operator control of the extractor.
Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope
of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the
spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended
claims.
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